Mass - Review (Sundance Film Festival 2021)

There’s So Much That No One Will Ever Know. 4.5 / 5

Directed by Fran Kranz.

Two couples meet for a painful and raw conversation in the aftermath of a violent tragedy.

A devastatingly beautiful and heartfelt start to Sundance, Mass is a complex performance-driven piece that surrounds the subject of loss.

Fran Kranz writes and directs a piece that perfectly encapsulates the pain of loss and the spectrum of emotions that lead to forgiveness. The way the camera focuses on emotion and reaction, never did a shot feel stale despite mostly taking place in a single location.

Playing out in real-time, two parents on opposite sides of a terrible incident meet for the first time and it is so cathartic to watch them slowly open up and attempt to make peace and heal.

The cast give such raw performances - Dowd and Plimpton especially are astounding. The claustrophobic setting, the range of emotion, and body language all help create an uncomfortable yet ultimately rewarding experience.

A subtle and moving piece that puts to screen the pain that can not be put into words and the desperate need for emotional release.

Sundance Film Festival 2021: Ranked

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